Bobby pin holder and opener



Nov. 27, 1951 E. A. BARTSCH BOBBY PIN HOLDER AND OPENER Filed May 11, 1949 we Z 2 gw kfiy 4. w

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a w Z FW Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,576,822 BOBBY PIN HOLDER AND OPENER. Ernst A. .Bar lhi o, :Ill.

. Application May 11, 1949 Serial 'No. -92 ,675

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a bobby pin holder and opener and more specifically to a bobby pin holder and opener embodying novel means for spreading the legs of a bobby pin or similar hairretaining device.

A hairpin or bobby pin of the type referred to herein is usually formed of a unitary piece of resilient material, such as spring steel, which is bent around the midpoint to provide a pair of separableadjacent legs at the lower ends thereof. One of the legs of the bobby pin is usually flat or straight while the other, which may be either fiat or corrugated, is provided with an outwardly flared lower end portion.

In order to utilize the bobby pin as a hair holding instrument it is necessary that the adjacent legs or prongs be separated so that they may be inserted above and below that portion of the hair which is to be held in place by the hobby pin. In practice the user has only one hand free to spread the legs of the bobby pin inasmuch as the other is occupied in holding the wisp of hair which is to be secured by the bobby pin. Hence it is necessary that recourse must be had to other means in cooperation with the free hand of the user to open the bobby pin.

One practice which has been employed by users of bobby pins to pry apart the legs thereof has been to force the lower extremities of the leg portions between the teeth, thus subjecting the teeth to possible fracture or other injury.

Another practice heretofore employed by users of bobby pins has been to exert pressure upon the upper end portion of the bobby pin while the legs thereof rest upon a dressing table top, or like surface. However, the latter method is apt to cause unsightly scars in furniture used for the purpose indicated, and hence is objectionable.

Accordingly the primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel and inexpensively constructed bobby pin holder and opener embodying a combination opener and holder plate member which may be employed to quickly and easily spread the legs of a bobby pin in a novel manner, and which also afiords a novel device for holding a supply of bobby pins in opened position so that they may be readily available for immediate use by the user of the new bobby pin holder and opener.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and useful bobby pin holder and opener embodying a novel combination opener and holder plate member having provided therein a transversely extending slot through which one leg of a bobby pin maybe inserted so that the bobby 2 pin may be opened thereby and held in open :position ready for immediate use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel combination bobby pin holder and opener in which a bobby .pin may be guided into opening position by the combination opener and holder plate member and in which the combination opener and holder plate member is mounted in a supporting structure in such a manner that the user may spread the legs of a bobby pin apart with one hand, thereby leaving the other hand :free for other uses.

Another object of this invention is toprovide a novel bobby pin opener and holder which is adapted to hold a supply of bobby pins in par.- tially open position ready for immediate use and in which provision is also made for storing a substantial number of unopened bobby pins in proximity to theopener and holder plate mem her so as to afford a supply of such unopened bobby pins as and when needed.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claim and are illustrated in the ac companying drawing which, by way of illustraiion; shows a preferred embodiment and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes maybe made as desiredby those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of the new bobby pin holder and opener showing a bobby pin mounted therein in partially opened pos on;

.Frig. .2 is a front .elevational view of the new bobby pin holder and opener shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is atop plan view .of the new bobby pin holder and opener shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on line i4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken sub tantially on the line 5-'5 of Fi 3;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the com bination opener and holder plate member which is embodied in the new bobby pin holder and opener;

' Fig. '7 is atop plan view of thenew opener and holder plate member shown" in Fig.6; and

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the new opener and holder plate member shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

A preferred embodiment of the new bobby pin holder and opener is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, of the drawing, wherein it is generally designated at I0, and comprises a substantially rectangular shaped body or supporting structure I I having a combination opener and holder plate member I2 mounted therein for spreading the free end portions I4, I5 of a bobby pin I3 and so as to open the latter.

The substantially rectangular shaped body or supporting structure II, which carries the combination opener and holder plate member I2,-may be formed of any suitable material such as plywood, plastic material, metal, or the like. However, in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, I have shown the body or supporting structure I I as being formed of plywood material whichis held in position by means of fastening elements, such as tacks or small nails, although any appropriate fastening means, such as screws, glue, or the like, may be employed depending upon the type of material which is utilized in forming the body or supporting structure I I.

The body or supporting structure I I includes a bottom wall I6, spaced parallel upright side walls I! and IS, a front wall I9, and a rear wall 20, all

of which cooperate to provide a substantially rectangular shaped open top bobby pin storage receptacle 2I in which bobby pins may be stored in unopened position and from'which they may be manually withdrawn as needed. The side walls I1 and I8 of the body or supporting structure I I have integral upward extensions 22 and 23, re-

spectively, formed at the rear end portions thereof and these upwardextensions 22 and 23 cooperate with an upward extension of the rear wall 20 to support a combination opener and holder plate member 12 which extends transversely of the body or supporting structure II and which extends above the plane of the upper edge portions of the side walls I! and I8.

A rearwardly inclined channel or groove 24, having an open upper end 25 and a closed lower end 26, is formed in the upward extension 22 of the sidewall H on the inner face thereof for receiving and firmly holding one side edge portion 23 of the combination opener and holder plate member I2. A similar rearwardly inclined channel 21, having an open upper end 25 and a closed lower end 26, is also formed in the inner face of the integral upward extension 23 of the side wall I8, opposite and parallel to the channel 24. Thus, the opposite side edge portions 28 and 29 of the combination opener and holder plate member I2 may be inserted into the open upper ends 25 of the channels 24 and 21, respectively,cand moved slidably downwardly therein until the bottom edge portions 30 thereof, which are adjacent the side edge portions 28 and 29, come into contact with and abut the closed lower end portions 26 of the channels 24 and 21.

The combination opener'and holder plate member I2 is comprised'of a substantially rectangular shaped piece of sheet material, such as sheet metal, plastic, or the like, having parallel side edges 28 and 29, a lower or bottom edge 30, and

an upper edge 3|, as shown in Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive. The width of the combination opener and'holder plate member I2 is substantially equal to the distance between the channels 24 and 27 which are formedin the upward extensions 22 29 thereof of the combination opener and holder plate member l2 may be conveniently inserted into and securely held in the channels or grooves 24 and 21.

A transversely and horizontally extendin slot 32 is formed centrally within the combination opener and holder plate member I2. The upper edge portion of this slot 32 is defined by a rearwardly curved guiding flange portion 33 which is formed in the body of the plate member I2. The lower edge of the transversely extending slot 32 is defined by an upwardly facing edge portion 34 which is disposed in the vertical plane of the-combination opener and holder plate member I2 and which is formed integrally therein. The rearwardly curved extending guiding flange 33, which defines the upper edge of the horizontally and transversely extending slot 32, is formed in such a manner as to enable the horizontally extending slot 32 in the opener and holder plate member I2 to receive only one leg portion I4 01 abobby pin I3 so that when a bobby pin is inserted; therein the outwardly flared leg portion I5 thereof will automatically come into sliding engagement with the front portion of the upwardly facing edge portion 34 of the slot 32, a forwardly projecting stop flange 35 being formed on the lower end portion 30 of the combination opener and holder plate member I2. This stop 35 extends along a major portion of the central section of the lower edge 30 of the plate member !2 below and relative to the transversely and horizontally extending slot 32 so that the outwardly flared leg portion I5 of a bobby pin I3, which has one leg I4 disposed within the horizontally-extending slot 32, cannot slide or be forceddownwardly below the stop flange 35. The lower edge portion 35 of the opener and holder plate member I2, adjacent the sides 33 and 3I thereof, is free of obstructions so that the side portions 30 and 3I thereof may be positioned in the channels 24 and 25 of the side wall extensions 22 and 23.

The combination opener and holder plate member I2 and the transversely and horizontally extending slot 32 which is formed therein may be of any length dependent upon the distance between the side walls I1 and I8 and the number of bobby pins I3 which it may be desired to mount therein.

The use and operation of the new bobby pin holder and opener shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, are as follows:

The user may grasp a bobby pin I 3 at the upper end portion thereof and move it downwardly with the leg portion I4 thereof in engagement with the upper surface of the combination opener and holder plate member I2. As the pin I3 is moved downwardly adjacent the upper portion of the combination opener and holder plate membe I2 the straight leg portion I4 of the bobby pin I3 will come into contact with and will be guided into the transversely and horizontally extending slot 32 by the rearwardly curved guide flange 33. When the straight leg portion I4 is in such position, the outwardly flared leg portion I5 of the bobby pin I3 will automatically engage the outer portion of the upwardly facing edge portion 34, of the transverse slot 32, and as the hobby pin I3 is moved downwardly, with the leg portion I4 thereof extending through the horizontal slot 32, the outwardly flared leg portion I5 of the bobby pin l3 will slidably engage the front face of the combination opener and holder plate member l2 and 23, so that the side, edge portions 28 andv 1 and the downward movement of the bobby'pin I3 will be stopped when the outwardly flared lower end portion I5 of the pin I3 abuts the stop flange 35 of the combination opener and holder plate member I2.

When it is desired to employ a bobby pin I3 to hold a lock of hair, the bobby pin I3 may be manually grasped at the upper end portion thereof, between the thumb and forefinger, whereupon the bobby pin I3 may be rocked or pivoted forwardly, while, at the same time, withdrawing the leg I4 thereof upwardly through the slot 32. This action exerts pressure on the front leg I5 and causes the same to bear against the front face of the plate member I2, thereby spreading the legs I 4 and I5 into fully open position, ready for use. When this opening action has been completed, the user may firmly grasp the bobby pin I3 so as to retain the same in the desired open position until the pin I3 has been properly inserted in the lock of hair desired to be secured thereby.

It -will be noted that a substantial number of bobby pins may be inserted into and held by the combination opener and holder plate member I2 in a semi-open position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, until needed, whereupon they may be withdrawn from the plate member I2 and fully opened for use, as described above.

An additional supply of bobby pins may also be stored in the storage receptacle 2 I provided therefor in the body of the generally rectangular supporting structure II.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, that the present invention provides a new and useful device which accomplishes its intended objects, including those hereinbefore pointed out, and others which are inherent in the invention.

Hence, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that it is capable of modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A bobby pin opener and holder comprising a supporting structure and an upwardly extending combination opener and holder plate member mounted upon the said supporting structure and having an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion, said upwardly extending combination opener and holder plate member having a transversely and generally horizontally extending slot formed therein between the said upper edge porthe said bobby pin may be spread apart into partially opened position and with the free end portions of the legs of the bobby pin extending downwardly and a multiplicity of the said bobby pins held in partially opened position and in side by side relationship upon the said combination opener and holder plate member under the gripping action and force of their own innate resiliency. said upwardly extending combination opener and holder plate member being inclined rearwardly from the vertical from its lower end to its upper end and having a rearwardly inclined guide flange formed integrally therewith along the upper edge of the said transversely and generally horizontally extending slot for slidably guiding the lower end portion of one and the rear leg of a bobby pin into and through the said transversely extending slot rearwardly of the said upwardly extending combination opener and holder plate member.

2. A device for spreading the legs of a bobby pin and holding the legs thereof in partially opened position comprising a supporting structure and a rearwardly inclined combination opener and holder plate member mounted upon the said supporting structure which includes an upper edge and a lower edge and a substantially uniplanar front face, said combination opener and holder plate member having a transversely and horizontally extending slot formed therein between the said upper edge and the said lower edge, a rearwardly extending guide flange formed integrally with the said combination opener and holder plate member and extending along the upper edge of the said transversely and horizontal- 1y extending slot for slidably guiding one leg of a bobby pin in a downward direction into and through the said transversely and horizontally extending slot rearwardly of the said combination opener and holder plate member, and a forwardly extending stop flange upon and extending along a major portion of the central section of the said lower edge of the said combination opener and holder plate member upon the said front face thereof to limit downward sliding movement of one and the said first leg of a bobby pin relative to the said combination opener and bolder plate member.

ERNST A. BARTSCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,239,485 Heywood Sept. 11, 1917 2,230,394 Young Feb. 4, 1941 2,460,562 Worrell Feb. 1, 1949 2,480,581 Hopkins Aug. 30, 1949 2,509,897 Williams et a1 May 30, 1950 2,535,170 Stephenson Dec. 26, 1950 

